About Elaine

Health and fitness has been my passion since I was a young girl. I was a Jane Fonda fan doing her workouts every morning as a teenager and when I left home at 18, I turned vegetarian. To make extra money I became an aerobic instructor at university. I discovered yoga at the same time and it felt like nothing I had ever experienced before. I found that well of serenity that had always been there, I just didn’t know how to access it. Yoga taught me how.

Moving to Dubai in 1994 with two small children I continued to teach aerobics and aqua fit till my divorce and the need to find full time employment. While I worked during the day, I taught fitness on the weekends and practised yoga before work at a studio close to my office. When the first ever yoga teacher training was offered in Dubai, I signed up. I wanted to learn more.

In 2010 after completing my 200 hour training, I wanted to share this with as many people as possible. So I created Yogafest Dubai , which brings more than 5000 participants to over 120 classes in 6 themed tents to support great causes in the beautiful grounds of Dubai Internet city. In 2014, I left full time work and opened the first eco-friendly yoga studio in the region, Eco Yoga Sanctuary which enabled me to combine my passion for sustainability and yoga. In 2016 I completed my 300 hour training in yoga therapeutics and opened my own home garden studio where I can be found teaching a variety of yoga classes from November to May.

I organise yoga retreats a year to connect to nature while enjoying healthy nutritious food and the daily practise of yoga with like minded people. Check out my events page for more details.